Hello 2015

Forgive my lateness on the New Year post, but I've had it planned in my head for a few weeks, so I decided that still counts.

2014 was an INSANE year for us!  Seriously, my mind boggles just thinking of all that happened.  Between all of the trips and developmental changes- a year ago we took away the boys' pacifiers and I hardly remember using pacifiers anymore- it's been a wild ride.  I have a feeling 2015 will also give us a run for our money {and probably every year after that, but that's just getting overwhelming}.  What I have completely failed to do these last few months is a big kid by kid overview.  I meant to when they hit the 2 1/2 mark, but it never happened.  So, now at 2 3/4 it's getting done.  And they've already changed quite a bit!  As always, in birth order (with estimated stats):

Andrew Noah

Height: 34-35in?

Weight: 30 lbs?

Clothes- big 2T/small 3T

diapers- 5 and 5 overnight

Andrew is such an interesting personality as my first born.  I can definitely see him as a leader.  He can be so helpful and sweet when picking up toys, bringing me stuff for Leah (not prompted), giving hugs to adults and siblings, and holding siblings' hands.  He is super sensitive and a big fat scaredy cat with everything!  But, he's also the big bully.  He's taller than everyone and will take a toy because someone else wants it.  It takes a lot to get him to share.  He LOVES hats.  There is one on his head unless he's sleeping or in the bath.  Cars and trucks are his toys of choice- pushing or riding.  He enjoys books and puzzles and coloring and play doh and running around outside.  He likes to help wash dishes.  He's in time out quite a bit.  I love his hillbilly laugh and goofy run.  He can pretty much sing his ABCs, count to 10, identify letters and numbers and colors and shapes, and repeat any words.  He's into everything being big- big milk, big pizza, big car, big truck, big chair... you get the idea.  Andrew is a mini-Dave.

Benjamin Luke

Height: 32 in?

Weight: 28 lb?

Clothes- big 2T/small 3T

diapers- 5 and 5 overnight

Does this boy every stop moving?!  He loves to run and he is fast!  Usually running while pushing his big yellow dump truck.  Also loves playing hide and seek- "Me more hide".  He hides in either play tent and really just goes back and forth each turn.  Sometimes he hides there when it's clean up time and reappears just as clean up is done.  Ben is a complete ham!  With his sly smiles and cute faces and sweet voice.  Loves to recite his Bible verses, numbers 1-10 forward and backward, letters, and colors. Loves listening to stories and you better not try to skip any words!  Gives great hugs.  Likes to be tucked in bed with his pillow, blanket, and many stuffed animals.  Named one Bubble Puppy after his beloved Bubble Guppies character.  Ben often wakes up from nap super grumpy.  Nothing makes him happy.  He's very particular in what he wants- "No water!  Apple juice!" or "Yellow cheese!"  He has hit a complete language explosion- going from sometimes putting 2 words together to spitting out "Nothing is impossible with God" and "I like cheese too" in a matter of weeks.  Ben loves running outside and generally plays well with the others, sometimes getting too rough.  My little tub o love.

Caroline Grace

Height: 32 in?

Weight: 25 lb?

Clothes- 2T

Diapers- 4/5

Sweet Caroline.  Sometimes that is.  In the past 3 months her tantrums have seriously reduced (may have had something to do with those molars coming in), but her screams can still make you cringe.  When she doesn't like or want a certain food item, it is going on the nearest plate that isn't hers.  But she loves her some breakfast.  And snacks.  She is still my nap lover and often cuts off story time early to get her nap on.  Probably because her nighttime sleep is restless and she has been known to sing and dance at odd hours in the night.  Usually making Leah giggle.  Caroline has taken a recent interest in helping me cook.  She's my little sous chef.  If she even thinks I might be prepping food, here she comes pushing a barstool over to help {sampling is her favorite}.  She thrives with one-on-one attention and knows so much more than she lets on.  Her speech is the most delayed, and although she's picked up quite a few more words recently, they're difficult to understand.  Caroline will randomly help with Leah and help pick up toys.  She loves building blocks, play doh, coloring, books, puzzles, magnets, and sneaking off by herself.  It doesn't surprise me to find Caroline happily playing in a room all alone. I almost forgot- she loves water!  I think she'd stay in the bath all day if I let her.  If she sees water, she's going in.  Swimming lessons are a must this summer.  She also loves being outside and sliding.  My parents say she's a lot like me, except she can strut around better than I ever could.

Leah Michelle

Height: 31 in

Weight: 23.5 lbs

Clothes- 2T

Diapers- 4

As her neurologist said at her last check up, "I couldn't be more pleased with her progress."  This girl continues to be so hard working!  She gives therapy and play her full effort everyday {unless she's over-tired, but you can't blame her then}.  She is 90% of the time a happy child.  Leah has the biggest smiles and her whole face lights up when she's happy about something.  She continues to make more and more sounds {no words, just sounds} and we love hearing them.  She is THIS CLOSE to sitting on her own and can do it for up to 10 seconds {using her hands to prop herself}.  Her muscle strength and tone are improving, as his head control.  Her reaching is better, moving in her gait trainer, and food tolerance is slightly better.  Again, it's Leah I'm talking about, so this progress is in baby step form, BUT it's progress nonetheless.  She still loves music, letters, and numbers.  She recognizes familiar voices and songs {like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse- smiles the entire show}.  Her siblings are more aware of her these days and will even help with some Leah duties.  At least one of them always helps push her stroller on outings.  She will be starting school in April and I can hardly believe it!!  

Allison Kate

Height: 31.5 in

Weight: 20 lbs

Clothes- 18 mo

Diapers- 4

As always, small in stature, big in personality.  This girl has also had a language explosion and picks up things I'm not sure how she knows.  Or maybe she has super human memory??  Like she all of a sudden mentions Elsa and Anna and Chick-fil-A all the time even though she's seen the movie and eaten there once... a couple of months ago.  What?!  She still notices EVERYTHING and lets you know if it's not right.  She's perfected the "no no fill in the blank"  because she's the little boss.  Alli knows letters, numbers, colors... and pretty much anything she can memorize.  She is still clingy and has her particular adults she prefers {probably because they're most likely to do as she wants- ha!}, but she can also be very shy which can be hard with transitions {unless a preferred adult is present}.  She loves to take care of her baby dolls, help me around the house, read, color, play tea party, and sing and do motions to songs.  She has been known to call her daddy, "Dave" and turn your head for you if she wants you to "Look!" at something.  Her first sentence was "Alli toot."  which isn't surprising since she's all about the "Alli do" everything by herself.

Levi Thomas

Height: 31.5 in

Weight: 22 lbs

Clothes- 18 mo

Diapers- 4

This little man is as quirky as ever!  He still loves both his guitar and his cleaning supplies.  He's usually playing with one or the other, but will break for his Legos, to color a picture, slide, or some other random thing- but not for too long.  He can get easily frustrated with communication and will throw a fit if you don't understand him right away.  But, his language has greatly improved lately {like not calling the vacuum "goo goo" or Gammy "BeBe" anymore}!  He likes to jump, throw balls, listen to music, pretend to play his guitar along with musical toys, sing, and run around outside.  Levi is a great eater!  He's slow and steady, but will usually clean his plate.  Right now he's really into closing doors and insists on being the last person out of a room so he can close the door. One of my favorite things Levi does is show his muscles.  Every time he comes in our bathroom for a bath {wearing just a diaper} he makes a stop at the full length mirror to do his muscle posing and just cracks himself up!  I'm always amazed at how quickly Levi picks up song lyrics and gets so excited to sing along and jam out with his crazy dance moves.

Phew!  Finally got through everyone.  As a group, they've really started being more big kid than toddler lately.  I'm loving how they interact with each other, always using their names, and generally being more aware of each other.  They've also really improved with hand holding- adults and each other!  This has really helped on outings.

Well, that's all folks.